GIFFORD PINCHOT NATIONAL FOREST 9341 Wright Meadow 93 Spencer Meadow Spencer Butte 4247' 30 30A 19 24 80 31C Lewis River Lower Falls 5 Quartz Creek 90 Taidnapam Falls Upper Falls 31 Spencer Peak 3861' 90 93 31E 6 9310 28 Big Creek Big Creek Falls 9039 House Rock N 90 31 Curly and Miller Falls Waterfall Viewpoints LEGEND Hwy/County Rd. Forest Service Rd Trail
Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument LEWIS RIVER VALLEY The Lewis River Valley will delight any explorer who comes looking for waterfalls surrounded by old-growth forest. This is an area packed with some of the most spectacular and interesting waterfalls on the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. Trails, ranging from easiest to most difficult, provide paths of discovery through this diverse landscape. Barrier-free trails allow close approach to waterfalls at Big Creek, Curly Creek, Miller Creek, and on the Lewis River. LEWIS RIVER VALLEY TRAILS HOUSE ROCK TRAIL 6 0 LENGTH: 0.5 mile, 0.8 km BEST SEASONS: spring, summer, fall LOW ELEVATION: 2400 ft. HIGH: 2650 ft. GAIN: 250 ft. TRAILHEAD ACCESS: Forest Road 9310-240 (road intermittently maintained). DESCRIPTION: This short trail starts near the end of Forest Road 9310-240 and leads to the top of House Rock. There you will find a three-sided Adirondack shelter, constructed as an emergency fire lookout. The shelter sits just back from the top of a high cliff with a panoramic view of the Lewis and Muddy River Valleys and Mount St. Helens. Volunteers refurbished the shelter in 1991. CUSSED HOLLOW TRAIL 19 LENGTH: 3.8 miles, 6.1 km BEST SEASONS: spring, summer, fall LOW ELEVATION: 2400 ft. HIGH: 3500 ft. GAIN: 1100 ft. TRAILHEAD ACCESS: Forest Road 93 or Wright Meadow Trail 80 (Forest Road 90). DESCRIPTION: The trail descends from Forest Road 93 near Spencer Meadow into Cussed Hollow. The trail then crosses Cussed Hollow Creek before contouring around the hill to its end at the junction with Wright Meadow Trail 80, 3.8 miles from the start. MOUNT ST. HELENS NATIONAL VOLCANIC MONUMENT 47
GIFFORD PINCHOT NATIONAL FOREST SQUAW BUTTE TRAIL 21 LENGTH: 4.8 miles, 7.7 km BEST SEASONS: summer, fall LOW ELEVATION: 3200 ft. HIGH: 4350 ft. GAIN: 1150 ft. TRAILHEAD ACCESS: Forest Road 24-271 or Forest Road 32-040. DESCRIPTION: This trail starts in the Tillicum Campground and leads southwest around Squaw Butte before connecting with Forest Road 32-040. It mostly traverses through young stands of western hemlock, silver fir, and western white pine. Crab Trail 20 intersects the Squaw Butte Trail 1.4 miles from the campground and the trail ends 3 miles further. BLUFF TRAIL 24 w 6 - LENGTH: 2.2 miles, 3.5 km BEST SEASONS: spring, summer, fall LOW ELEVATION: 1600 ft. HIGH: 3500 ft. GAIN: 1900 ft. TRAILHEAD ACCESS: Forest Road 93 or Lewis River Trail 31 (Forest Road 90). DESCRIPTION: The trailhead provides an exceptional view of Mount Adams and the Lewis River Valley. Bluff Trail loses 1800 feet as it descends along a Douglas fir covered ridgeline before connecting into Lewis River Trail 31. This trail is steep and sometimes difficult to follow. It intersects the Lewis River Trail 0.5 mile downstream of Forest Road 90 near Crab Creek. BIG CREEK FALLS TRAIL 28 w LENGTH: Barrier-free loop: 0.25 mile, 0.4 km Big Creek Falls Trail: 0.9 mile, 1.4 km BEST SEASONS: spring, summer, fall LOW ELEVATION: 1800 ft. HIGH: 2000 ft. GAIN: 200 ft. TRAILHEAD ACCESS: Forest Road 90. DESCRIPTION: This trail provides breathtaking views of Big Creek Falls as it plunges 110 feet into a mist-shrouded pool. The loop trail continues, offering interpretive displays which help you explore the old-growth Douglas fir forest. However, you may choose to continue downslope along the canyon rim above Big Creek Gorge and a second waterfall. The trail ends on a rock promontory overlooking the Lewis River Valley. Special Conditions: Steep drop-offs at waterfall viewpoints and at trail end. 48 NWIA TRAIL GUIDE
Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument LEWIS RIVER VALLEY TRAILS SPENCER BUTTE TRAIL 30 and BREEZY POINT TRAIL 30A 0 LENGTH: Spencer Butte Trail: 3.2 miles, 5.1 km Breezy Point Trail: 0.8 mile, 1.3 km BEST SEASONS: summer, fall LOW ELEVATION (Spencer Butte): 3400 ft. HIGH: 4250 ft. GAIN: 850 ft. LOW ELEVATION (Breezy Point ): 3800 ft. HIGH: 4200 ft. GAIN: 400 ft. TRAILHEAD ACCESS: Forest Road 93 or Forest Road 93-301. DESCRIPTION: As you ascend Spencer Butte from the south the forest changes from western white pine to noble and subalpine fir. Breezy Point Trail 30A is soon reached where it provides a 0.8-mile trail to the location of an old fire lookout. The base for a fire finder can still be seen at this location. Atop Spencer Butte, the skyline is dominated by a commanding view of Mount St. Helens. The remains of a Forest Service fire lookout built in 1935 are found on the summit. Wildflowers provide a colorful display in the summer months on the top of the butte. Descending to the north, the trail travels through a Douglas fir forest before ending near Spencer Meadow, a place often visited by elk. LEWIS RIVER TRAIL 31 Curly Creek Trailhead to Lower Falls Recreation Area LENGTH: 10.3 miles, 16.6 km BEST SEASONS: Year-round LOW ELEVATION: 1200 ft. HIGH: 1800 ft. GAIN: 600 ft. TRAILHEAD ACCESS: Curly Creek Trailhead (Forest Road 9039) or Lower Falls Recreation Area (Forest Road 90). DESCRIPTION: Lewis River Trail 31 remains within sight or sound of the river as you ride or hike through this lush valley. The trail follows a gentle uphill grade through a magnificent old-growth forest. Bolt Camp Shelter, 2.5 miles from the trailhead, was constructed around 1921 by shake bolt cutters. It was restored by volunteers in 1991. Climbing above a basalt cliff gorge, the trail soon crosses Forest Road 90, 9.2 miles from the trailhead. Beyond the road crossing, the trail continues upriver 1.1 miles to Lower Lewis River Falls and Lower Falls Recreation Area. Here the Lewis River plunges over a 60-foot cliff creating a breathtaking panorama. Special Conditions: Wet rocks and cliffs along the trail, and river may be slippery. MOUNT ST. HELENS NATIONAL VOLCANIC MONUMENT 49
LEWIS RIVER TRAIL 31 Lower Falls Recreation Area to Quartz Creek Falls Trail 5 LENGTH: 3.3 miles, 5.3 km BEST SEASONS: Year-round LOW ELEVATION: 1400 ft. HIGH: 1800 ft. GAIN: 400 ft. TRAILHEAD ACCESS: Lower Falls Recreation Area (Forest Road 90) or Quartz Creek Trail 5 (Forest Road 90). DESCRIPTION: Leaving the Lower Falls Recreation Area, the trail skirts above the river before coming to the remains of an old sheep bridge and steam donkey. A steam donkey is a piece of heavy equipment used in logging prior to internal combustion engines. It was used to move timber bridges into and out of place to avoid winter floods. Wright Meadow Trail 80 joins the Lewis River Trail south of Copper Creek. Just beyond, you come to Middle Lewis River Falls, which is more a rocky chute than a waterfall. The trail climbs another 1 mile to Alec Creek near the base of Upper Lewis River Falls. It then climbs to a cliff top overlooking Upper Lewis River Falls. Taidnapam Falls, nestled in a rocky gorge above Upper Falls, is yet another attraction. The Lewis River Trail ends on Forest Road 90 across from Quartz Creek Trail 5. CURLY CREEK and MILLER CREEK FALLS TRAIL 31A w LENGTH: 0.2 mile, 0.3 km BEST SEASONS: year-round LOW ELEVATION: 1240 ft. HIGH: 1220 ft. GAIN: 20 ft. TRAILHEAD ACCESS: Curly Creek Trailhead (Forest Road 9039). DESCRIPTION: This trail provides easy access to viewpoints of Curly Creek and Miller Creek Falls. From the parking lot, follow the trail west and you will soon come to Curly Creek Falls where a waterfall plummets from beneath two rock arches. This may be one of the most unusual waterfalls in the Northwest. At low water, a third rock arch can be seen in the bed of Curly Creek. Continuing westward, the trail soon leads to the Miller Creek Falls viewpoint where a waterfall plunges over a moss and fern-laden cliff into the Lewis River. This is a barrier-free trail. MIDDLE FALLS TRAIL 31C LENGTH: 1.3 miles, 2.1 km BEST SEASONS: Year-round LOW ELEVATION: 1500 ft. HIGH: 1800 ft. GAIN: 300 ft. TRAILHEAD ACCESS: Middle Falls Trailhead (Forest Road 90). DESCRIPTION: This trail provides a loop down to the Lewis River where it churns over Middle Falls. The trail soon encounters Upper Copper Creek Falls. A bridge crosses the creek just above the waterfall, presenting a spectacular view as the water falls away from you and over the cliff. 50 NWIA TRAIL GUIDE
Lewis River Trail 31 is reached about 0.3 mile from the trailhead. Continuing down, you soon come to Middle Falls. The trail then heads down the Lewis River crossing Copper Creek for a second time. You will then cross a bridge above Lower Copper Creek Falls. Continuing up is the Middle Falls Trail loop which will lead you back to the parking lot. SPEED TRAIL 31E w LENGTH: 1 mile, 1.6 km BEST SEASONS: spring, summer, fall LOW ELEVATION: 1100 ft. HIGH: 1900 ft. GAIN: 800 ft. TRAILHEAD ACCESS: Forest Road 90 or Lewis River Trail 31 by fording of Lewis River. DESCRIPTION: This primitive trail is a steep descent through an old-growth forest to reach the Lewis River. It provides quick access to the river and, by wading the river, a connection with Lewis River Trail 31. The ford is only usable in the late summer when water levels are low. Special Conditions: Extremely steep in some sections. Fording the Lewis River may not be possible before mid-july due to spring runoff. WRIGHT MEADOW TRAIL 80 0 LENGTH: 8.7 miles, 14 km BEST SEASONS: summer, fall LOW ELEVATION: 1700 ft. HIGH: 3700 ft. GAIN: 2000 ft. TRAILHEAD ACCESS: Lewis River Trail 31 (Forest Road 90), Forest Road 93, or Forest Road 2559-101. DESCRIPTION: After crossing Forest Road 90, the trail climbs out of the Lewis River Valley through a mature forest. The headwater of Copper Creek is crossed via a bridge with a campsite nearby. A short distance upslope, the trail passes into a young tree plantation. You will pass through another plantation before crossing Forest Road 93. 1 mile further is Forest Road 9327-040 and Forest Road 9327. This is also the intersection and the beginning of Craggy Peak Trail 3. Further along the trail is Wright Meadow where elk can often be seen grazing. The trail crosses Forest Road 9327 before starting its descent to Clear Creek. A ford allows you to cross Clear Creek before ascending to a bench. The trail then drops to Elk Creek before climbing to Forest Road 2259-101. MOUNT ST. HELENS NATIONAL VOLCANIC MONUMENT 51